“People Power” may have met its ignominious end in the swamps of New Jersey last night, but the WWE Universe will have one final opportunity tonight to hear from the newly out-of-work Mr. Excitement. Now that his tenure as Raw’s top authority figure is officially in the rear-view mirror, will the WWE Universe see a new, more humble, side of Laurinaitis? On his way out the door, will “Big Johnny” attempt to make good for his many previous wrongs? Or, will he leave Raw in much the same way that he governed it – kicking and screaming? (via WWE.com)

I hope it’s just Vince stomping out and saying “uhhhh turns out I lost the ability to perform day-to-day actions like firing people last year when I let CM Punk leave WWE with the title, so I guess you still have your job” and then meekly power-walking away.

Also:

– Will AW’s shocking turn on Primo and Epico lead to the Primetime Players getting their WWE Tag Team title shot? Probably not!

– Triple H will continue to call out Brock Lesnar for a match at Summerslam, and if we’re lucky the segment will involve a table and chairs and several minutes of legal discussion.

– John Cena cannot ever be f**king beaten.

Don’t forget, my 10 favorite comments from tonight’s open discussion thread will be featured in tomorrow’s Best And Worst Of WWE Raw 6/18 column. To nominate a comment for top 10 status, please reply to it with a +1.

It’s strange to me that the WWE didn’t go for the cheap and easy goodwill of giving Zack Ryder a match against someone he could easily beat (say, Heath Slater for example) while they were in Long Island. Or even better, HOLE ONNA MINNIT PLAYA!! A TAG TEAM MATCH with Zack Ryder and Brodus Clay against Slater and Otunga! Although Otunga was already earmarked for jobbing to Cena, so… uh… the guy with the cane instead. Jack Hawkins. Whoever.

The Cyndi Lauper / Roddy Piper stuff was the most torturous 5 minutes…10 minutes…hell, I don’t even know, it was so bad I actually lost track of time…imaginable. I mean, I understand the need to to celebrate the history of the WWE every once in a while so, sure, bring Lauper and Piper and Richter into the ring and have them do their thing. But, for the love of Billy Red Lyons, sit them down before you send them out and tell them to be quick about it.

Cena should really be careful with those Attitude Adjustments. If the property of the move is supposed to change ones outlook on things. The first one made Big John more of sunshine and lollipops guy. Second one turned him back into Mr. People Power, and the third one back into Johnny Face…….. all I’m saying is if he gave him a 4th one we would have the off chance to be back to square one if Laurinaitis ever returned.

I’m feeling free to comment now that I’ve had a few minutes of breathing room from this disaster.

Dear God, the best part of RAW was the first two matches and it all went downhill after that. And that fucking ending, Christ almighty, what a waste. As the Colonel said below me, a year building up Big Johnny only to have Cena pull his fucking Superman act for the goddamn millionth time. I don’t know why I even bother caring anymore. Clearly Vince, who for a month last year acted like he gave a shit about us, just decided to return to shitting on us. This was a wasted show, after a wasted PPV. Gene Okerlund’s right. They need to cut back to eight PPV’s a year and remember how to build stories again, because this was a SHITTY FUCKING STORY ENDING tonight.

So WWE spent about a year building up this John Laurinaitis character into one of the most over heels they have… And at a time where the company desperately needs to create new stars, they let John Cena be the guy who brings Big Johnny down.

On Piper “Oh my god. Piper’s getting close to Flair country! What the hell are these old farts doing in the ring? They’re almost as old as me!!! (he’ll be 69 on the 24th)

On Titus & Darren: “Where the hell did all these black guys come from? Vinnie doesn’t like black guys!” Hey, do you remember that guy Seaman R Thomas… He was a huge black guy…
Me: … Semen?
Dad: No… Seaman! He was around during that Lou guy….umm
Me: Lou Thesz?
Dad: YEAH! Who was that guy…
Me: Do you mean Sailor Art Thomas?
Dad: Yeah!!! Hey, I was close enough. I’m old.

Somewhere in alternate universe, John Cena never challenged Kurt Angle to the “ruthless aggression” match all those years ago and we’re sitting here commenting on that awesome Daniel Bryan vs. Tyson Kidd championship match.

The hidden positive here is that John Cena is being relevant (whether we like it or not) without having to hog the WWE title from everyone else. If this were happening in the midst of his mega run from 2006-07? Oh dear.